Splitter



P 21, 1955 L. s. HENDRICKSON 3,207,173

SPLITTER Original Filed July 10, 1962 Signal from Spiral Contra //er Concentrate Concentrate to Product 0! Further Processing Concentrate Returned to Feed INVENTOR LUTHER a. /-//v0n/c/rso/v Attorney United States Patent 3,207,173 SPLITTER Luther G. Hendrickson, Duluth, Minn., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Original application July 10, 1962, Ser. No. 208,757.

Divided and this application Apr. 21, 1964, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-262) This invention relates to an improved splitter for dividing a stream of material into variable fractions.

The present application is a division of my earlier application Serial No. 208,757, filed July 10, 1962.

In some operations it is necessary to divide a stream of material into fractions of variable size which take different routes. For example my aforesaid application shows a method and apparatus for controlling the flow of materials in a spiral concentrating plant in which concentrate from the spirals is divided into two fractions. One fraction leaves the plant, while the other 'recirculates to maintain proper conditions in the spirals. As the quantity of feed to the plant varies, it is necessary to adjust the size of the recirculating fraction to compensate.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved splitter for dividing a stream of material into variable fractions, the magnitude of which can be adjusted automatically in response to external signals.

A further object is to provide an improved splitter of the foregoing type which is of compact simple construction readily assembled and applied to existing plants.

In the drawing, the single figure is a perspective view of my improved splitter.

The drawing shows a first fixed launder which receives a stream of material, for example a water suspension of concentrate from the termination of a line in a spiral plant. My splitter includes a second fixed launder 12 located beneath launder 10 to receive one fraction of the material therefrom, for example the recirculating fraction in a spiral plant. A third fixed launder 13 is located beneath launder 12 and offset therefrom to receive the other fraction of the material from launder 10, for example the fraction leaving the plant. My splitter includes a swinging launder 14 and a pair of links 15 attached to this launder and pivoted to an overhead support 16. The swinging launder is located in the space between the first and second fixed launders 10 and 12 and it has an outlet spout 17 in its end above the third fixed launder 13. A positioner 18 is connected to the links 15 to move the swinging launder back and forth.

In the example of a splitter used in the control apparatus shown in my aforesaid application, the positioner 18 is of a type which receives signals from a recorder-controller (not shown in the present application). When the recorder-controller signals that an adjustment is needed in the magnitude of the recirculating fraction, the positioner automatically shifts the swinging launder 14. When the swinging launder moves to the left, it catches a larger fraction of the stream of material dis- 3,207,173 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 charging from the fixed launder 10 and routes this fraction to the third fixed launder 13. Thus more material is removed from the plant. The reverse adjustment takes place when the swinging launder moves to the right. One example of a suitable positioner is available commercially from Foxboro Company, Foxboro, Massachusetts, as the Stabiload.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a concentrating plant which includes a line adapted to carry a stream of material and a first fixed launder at the termination of said line for receiving the stream of material therefrom, the combination therewith of a splitter for dividing the stream into two variable fractions, said splitter comprising a second fixed launder spaced beneath said first launder to receive one fraction of the stream directly therefrom, a third fixed launder offset endwise from said second launder, a swinging launder supported in the space between said first and second launders for catching the other fraction of the stream before it reaches said second launder and having an outlet in its end above said third launder for discharging the latter fraction thereto, and means connected to said swinging launder for adjusting its position to vary the relative size of the two fractions in response to a control signal.

2. The combination, with a first fixed launder adapted to discharge a stream of material, of a splitter for dividing the stream into two variable fractions, said splitter comprising a second fixed launder spaced beneath said first launder to receive one fraction of the stream directly therefrom, a third fixed launder offset endwise from said second launder, a swinging launder, overhead means pivotally supporting said swinging launder in the space between said first and second launders for catching the other fraction of the stream before it reaches said second launder, said swinging launder having an outlet in its end above said third launder for discharging the latter fraction thereto, and a positioner connected to said swinging launder for pivoting it about said overhead means to vary the relative size of the two fractions in response to a control signal.

References Cited by the'Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 193,034 7/77 Pierson l37--612 1,621,022 3/27 Merchen 137-612 XR 2,43 8,327 3/ 48 Smallely 137-10129 FOREIGN PATENTS 194,672 5/24 Great Britain.

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Examiner. 

1. IN A CONCENTRATING PLANT WHICH INCLUDES A LINE ADAPTED TO CARRY A STREAM OF MATERIAL AND A FIRST FIXED LAUNDER AT THE TERMINATION OF SAID LINE FOR RECEIVING THE STREAM OF MATERIAL THEREFROM, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A SPLITTER FOR DIVIDING THE STREAM INTO TWO VARIABLE FRACTIONS, SAID SPLITTER COMPRISING A SECOND FIXED LAUNDER SPACED BENEATH SAID FIRST LAUNDER TO RECEIVE ONE FRACTION OF THE STREAM DIRECTLY THEREFROM, A THIRD FIXED LAUNDER OFFSET ENDWISE FROM SAID SECOND LAUNDER, A SWINGING LAUNDER SUPPORTED IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND LAUNDERS FOR CATCHING THE OTHER FRACTION OF THE STREAM BEFORE IT REACHES SAID SECOND LAUNDER AND HAVING AN OUTLET IN ITS END ABOVE SAID THIRD LAUNDER FOR DISCHARGING THE LATTER FRACTION THERETO, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SWINGING LAUNDER FOR ADJUSTING ITS POSITION TO VARY THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE TWO FRACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO A CONTROL SIGNAL. 